Columbus Crew Stadium

The 2006-2007 MLS offseason has been considered by some to be the most productive in the history of the league,^[7] and there were a number of changes made to the league, which have brought about an increase in the league’s ability to compete financially as well as on the field. The league announced a youth development initiative,^[5] which will require youth development programs for all of the league’s teams. The hope is that by being able to sign up to two of its own youth players to the senior team each year that the league’s teams will have an incentive to improve the quality of the league’s talent in an organic way that will also benefit the league through transfer fees for outgoing players. Perhaps the first example of a success in “home-grown” talent development was New York’s Jozy Altidore, who rose to prominence as one of the league’s most skilled young strikers before fetching the league’s record transfer fee in his move to Villarreal in 2008.

The league also announced “Game First”, a series of initiatives aimed at improving the league in several ways. One of the most immediate changes is that U.S. Soccer hired the first full-time professional referees in league history.^[8] Another part of “Game First” was the creation of an official league anthem similar to other competitions from around the world. There are two versions of the MLS Anthem, an orchestral version that is performed before every regular season game and an orchestral chorus version that is played before the MLS All-Star Game and MLS Cup.